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Preachinatthebar Primed for Sir Barton at Pimlico

Preachinatthebar, who was taken out of consideration for the Kentucky Derby (gr. I) after trainer Bob Baffert felt the colt needed more time to develop, is one of two 122 topweights for Saturday's Sir Barton Stakes on dirt on the Preakness (gr. I) undercard at Pimlico. Named in honor of the first Triple Crown winner and run under allowance conditions, the Sir Barton for 3-year-olds hosts a field of 10, including supplemental entry Tap Dancer, who will have the services of Smarty Jones' jockey Stewart Elliott.

One of two graded winners in the field, Preachinatthebar signaled his readiness for the 1 1/16 stakes with a bullet workout of :57 4/5 for five furlongs May 10 at Churchill Downs. A son of 1997 Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm, Preachinatthebar won the San Felipe Stakes (gr. II) March 14. He goes into the race off an unplaced effort in the Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (gr. I) at Keeneland.

Humorously, also at 122 pounds, will be making his first start outside Florida. He sports a restricted stakes win this year and a runner-up effort in the Aventura Stakes April 3 in his last start. His sire, Distorted Humor, sired last year's Derby and Preakness winner Funny Cide.

Dashboard Drummer, the other graded winner, won the Sapling Stakes (gr. III) last year at Monmouth Park. His two earlier efforts this year came in a third in the Swale Stakes (gr. III) at Gulfstream Park and an unplaced effort in the Coolmore Lexington Stakes (gr. II) at Keeneland.

Those looking to handicap the Preakness off the Sir Barton will be paying close attention to how Irish Laddie performs. Irish Laddie finished three-quarters of a length in a third behind Preakness contestant Water Cannon in the Federico Tesio Stakes at Pimlico in his last start.